Demure and ever-so-humble pop star Lady Gaga says her new album will "change the world."

Quoth the lady: "The album is my absolute greatest work I've ever done and I'm so excited about it. The message, the melodies, the direction, the meaning, what it will mean to my fans and what it will mean in my own life — it's utter liberation. I knew I had an ability to change the world when I started to receive letters from fans: ‘You saved my life...' ‘I'm gay and my parents threw me out...' My fans have related to me as a human being and as a non-human being - as a super-human person that I truly am." And: "Everyone tells me I'm arrogant but my music's the only thing I've got, so you'll have to let me be confident about one thing. I suppose that's what you can expect from the album: a lot of hit records that will piss people off. Beyoncé said: ‘Where the fuck do you get these ideas from?' And I was like: ‘I don't know Bee, it was just the way I was born.'" [Digital Spy via RWD Magazine]

Franc Fernandez, who designed Lady Gaga's meat dress, claims: "Gaga said it smelled good. It had a sweet smell. It hadn't been sitting out for more than five hours. And it's not a heavy gross meat."[ONTD]

Kate Gosselin has a "new" body, a fact she is announcing on the cover of People magazine. Sure, she had a tummy tuck in 2004. But she says she runs every day and is "the most fit I've ever been." Also: "I've worked really hard! Haven't I earned the right, at this point, to look good?" [NYDN]

Britney Spears is looking to regain control of her finances by the end of the year. Her dad has been in charge of her wallet since 2008. [News.com.au]

Despite what you may have heard, Sofia Vergara is not engaged. [Contact Music]

For the first time, American Idol will allow online auditions. You have forty seconds to prove you're a star! [PopEater]

At the link, an anecdote from Ben Affleck, concerning a plane trip, lightning, a fire and a possible molester. [TV Squad]

Woody Allen was asked about the mosque near Ground Zero, and said: "Of course I think they should build the mosque. If I was speaking to the people who are protesting legitimately, I would try to convince them, if I could, that building the mosque takes a step toward eliminating this kind of thing from happening again. Preventing the mosque from being built is not a step in the right direction." [Gatecrasher]